MOSCOW, Apr 22The head of the Russian delegation at the talks, aide to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky, said that on Friday he held talks with the head of the Ukrainian delegation, David Arakhamia. Moscow last week handed over to Ukraine its proposals on a draft document with well-defined wording, but has not yet received a response. Russian-Ukrainian consultations began in late February: the delegations held two face-to-face meetings in Belarus, after which it was decided to continue them video conferencing mode. At the end of March, the delegations held another round of talks in Istanbul. As a result, Medinsky said that Ukraine had submitted its written proposals for a future treaty, which Moscow considers a step forward, and in general, Kyiv for the first time in many years has shown a desire to negotiate. 
16:40Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine stalled, Lavrov saidThe Russian side in response took two steps towards Ukraine. First, it was decided to significantly reduce hostilities in the Kiev and Chernigov directions. Secondly, Moscow suggested that the meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky should take place simultaneously with the initialing of the treaty by the foreign ministers. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later said that Ukraine was refusing its own proposals and creating numerous provocations in order to slow down the negotiation process. In particular, according to the minister, Ukraine presented its draft agreement with Russia, which is a departure from the provisions fixed at the meeting in Istanbul regarding Crimea, and also changed the provision on military exercises without mentioning the need to obtain Russia's consent.
